Device for developing cut films and film packs



Oct. 6, 1936. c SCDHNELZ 2,056,298

DEVICE FOR DEVELOPING CUT FILMS AND FILM PACKS Filed March 14, 1935 INVENTOR. Frederz' 61' C SCfi/VEZZ.

ATTORNEY6.

Patented Oct. 6,1936

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE Frederick C. Schnelz, Royal Oak, Mich. Application March 14, 1935, Serial No. 10,965 9 Claims. (01. 95-100 This invention relates to an improved apparatus for developing, fixing and/or washing photographic films, the principal object being to provide a means whereby a plurality of separate photographic films may be developed, fixed and/or washed effectively as a unit without necessitating manually handling them during the operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a film developing, fixing and/or washing apparatus capable of being used efiiciently in total darkness, if necessary, without danger of finger printing, scratching or otherwise injuring the films.

Another object of the invention is to provide a photographic film developing, fixing and/or 5 washing apparatus which is capable of being readily adapted to receive different sizes of films.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for supporting a plurality of separate photographic films in spaced relation whereby to enable them, as a unit, to be passed through developing, fixing and/orwashing solutions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder for supporting a plurality of separate films in spaced relation and so constructed as to pro- 5 vide ready access to each film supported therein and to facilitate the insertion and withdrawal of the individual films to and from their respective positions without disturbing any other films supported thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will efiectively develop, fix and/or wash photographic films with a minimum amount of liquid.

Another object is to provide a film developing apparatus which will give the films supported therein a curved shape to provide a rigidity to the films transverse to the curvature.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will utilize falling water to rotate the photographic film developing, fixing and/or washing tank and thereby cause the developing, fixing and Washing liquid in the tank to bathe the films supported therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for developing, fixing and/or washing photographic films which is simple in construction, efficient and effective in its usev and inexpensive to manufacture.

i The above being among the objects of the present invention, the same consists in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawing which shows a suitable embodiment of the present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views:-

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a photo- 5 graphic film developing, fixing and/or washing apparatus embodying the present invention, with the tank part thereof partly broken away to show the position of the film supporting means therein;

Fig. 2 is a slightly enlarged sectional view of 10 the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken through the axis thereof as on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a slightly enlarged, transverse sectional view of the apparatus shown in the preceding figures, taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; 15

Fig. 4 is a slightly enlarged transverse sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, taken through the water wheel portion thereof as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, an open and flowing water faucet being depicted in connection therewith to show a method of operating the same;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the film supporting means removed from the tank and partially cut away to show the construction and manner in which films are supported therein; 25

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective View of an inner face of the film supporting means, showing the construction thereof at the area at which the films are inserted, as on line G 6, 3. 3

Referring now to the drawings, a film supporting means or spool is indicated generally at III. This spool is comprised-of a central axle, post or spindle ll having end portions l2 of a reduced diameter forming radial shoulders l3. The end 35 portions.|2 are threaded as indicated at M substantially throughout their length. Upon each of these reduced end portions I2 is received a plate like member l5 shown herein in the form of a disc. Each of the discs I5 is provided with a central hub portion l6 having a bore or opening therethrough just large enough to permit the disc to he slipped on the end portions l2 of the post I l, to and against the shoulders l3. In viewing the drawing and particularly Fig. 2, it will 45 be noted that an annular spacing ring means IT, to be hereinafter described, may be interposed between the shoulder l3 upon the right end of post II and the inner portion of hub I6 of the disc l5 adjacent thereto. Due to the fit between 5 the hub 16 of disc l5 upon end portions l2, and against shoulder 13, it is evident that the discs l5 are centrally maintained with respect to the post II and are supported'in spaced and parallel relation relative to each other. Nuts l8 are pro- 55 PIOCGSSES.

hub it ,of one of the discs IS the nut it upon that end of spindle H secures said disc it against the spacer it and the spacer against the shoulder to attain the frictionally locked relation mentioned.

The'inwardly facing or opposed faces of the discs 95 and particularly that portion of the faces near the periphery of the disc, are provided with symmetrically opposed and oppositely matched grooves 89 therein, and, while these grooves may be of any desiredshape and contour as long as they are spaced from one another they are preferably arranged in approximateiy parallel relation with respect to each other about the axis of the-spindle it. Thus, these grooves are provided and adapted to receive individual films 28 between them, as indicated in Fig. 5, the opposite edges of the films 29 being received in opposed grooves 59 upon the opposing faces of discs it. Although the grooves 59 may be of any suitable configuration as longasthey serve to guide and support films to therein in a spaced relation, ordinarily it will be found most convenieht and economical from the standpoint of manufacture and use to form them concentrically to each other and to the axis of the spool and spindle it, as

The disposing of the film receiving grooves 89 in a concentric or otherwise longitudinally curved manner has other importantadvantages. When the films are inserted into the curved grooves they A assume a correspondingly curved shape. s curved 'shape provides a rigidity in the films against a bending or a flexing transverse to the line of curvature and thereby insures in preventing the films from rubbing together or otherwise interfering with each other during the, developing In order to permit'the insertion of the hints individually into the individual corresponding grooves flaeach circular disc it has marginal portions cut away to provide a notch or notches designated by thenumeral 26, The number of such notches M 'will ordinarily depend upon the size of the films to which the spool is adapted to receive and the diameter oi the spool itself. However, in the particular case illustrated, the spool is assumed to be ofsufficient diameterito accommodate a pair of-films in circular alignment without'overlapping. Consequently, in the embodiment illustrated, it is necessary to provide only one notch 20 for access to'the two films in= troduced in a single groove, one at each side of the notch. It is evident that this ready access to the individual films provided by the notch or notches 2| enables the insertion and withdrawal of individual films to'and from parts of corresponding grooves without disturbing any of the films in the other grooves. The radial depth towhich notches 2! are cut is th'atwhich is sumclent to expose the ends of all the grooves.

As indicated in Figs. send 6, in order to facili tate the entrance of the individual films 20 into the individual grooves I9, the edges of the discs it along the margins of the notches 2| are cut away to the depth of the lands 24 formed between v S,Obfi,298

vided to engage the threads I upon the end the grooves fls'so as to provide flanges 22 adja- ;cent the outwardly opposed faces of said discs I5, between which flanges the edges of the films may beiguidedduring the insertion of the same into the grooves 99. Additionally, the corresponding ends 01fv the lands 24 formed between the grooves as. are preierablybevelled oil, as at23, to provide widened mouths for the grooves and ,further facilitate the entranceof the edges of the films Etinto their corresponding grooves 89. It will be noted, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, that where the lands 2d are bevelled only upon one side at their ends, one of the lands, such a land indicated at 25 adjacent the innermost groove i9, is preferably bevelled upon both sides to provide a wider opening or mouth. to both of theadjacent grooves 89.. i

As indicated in Figs. 3 and 5, a. second set of notche 2t is formed in the discs 20 in a dialmetrically opposed-relation to the set of notches 26 upon each disc. It will be recognized that this second set of notches 26 may also be provided with fianges 22 and bevelled lands, as at 23, as are notches 2i tofaicilitate the insertion of films 20 through the notches 26, but although these notches 26 are 'not essential-to permit the application of two difierent groupsv of films 20 to the spool, theywill be found convenient for thepurpose of preventing the spool from rolling while resting on a surface during a'loading operation.-

lin addition; it might also be noted that this second set of notches 26 also acts to equalize the distribution of weight about the axis of the spindle it so as to render the spool more easily rotatable dg a developing, fixing and/or washing operation, in the manner hereinafter described-w Referring now to Fig, 2, and particularly to the annular spacer it between the right-hand-disc it and the corresponding shoulder l3 of the spindle it, this is provided for axially spacing the disc, an amount required to receive a certain size of 28'. Should it be desired to employ the spool it for a larger size of film, the nut 58 upon the end portion B2 of the spindle ii adjacent the spacer i? may be removed together with the be (of exceptional length to accommodate very long spaces, the illustrated embodiment showing only one end portion of an extended length, nely the right .end portion 82 as viewed -in Fig, 2. Further, it is evident that annular spacer it y be interposed between either shoulder 13 and its respective disc i5."

"lime present invention is so constituted, that any number of from one to a complete load maybe supmrted in the spool without hindering J "the effective developing, fixing and/or washing operations, likewise, any number of-films up to a fifull load, the grooves lcwm maintain in suitably spaced relation during the developing, fixing and/or washing Donations, and in all cases the films are indivi pally supportedand may be in- ;dividually inserted and/or removed. P

Although in the broader aspects of the present invention; any suitable means may be employed for subjecting the films supported by the spool It to suitable developing, fixing and/or f solution, in accordance with the further phase of the present invention, means particularly adapted for this purpose areprovided. Referring to the drawing, this means comprises a cylindrical tank 3|) having a closed end 3|- and an open end which is adapted to be closed by a screw cap 32 suitably threaded thereon and a gasket or washer 33 preferably interposed between the inner face of cap 32 and the open edge of tank 38 in order to seal the joint between them against leakage. A wall 34 is provided in spaced relation .with respect to the bottom 3! of the tank 38 and is connected thereto by means of a central post 35 and a plurality of spirally arranged vanes 36 connected to the wall 34 upon one side and bottom 3| upon the other side, in a manner to provide a gravity actuated type of water wheel. The wall 34 and the cap 32 are each centrally provided with an out wardly and axially projecting trunnion 31. These trunnions 31 are adapted to be rotatively and removably received in the semi-circular, axially extended bearing 38 formed upon the upper ends of the vertically extending spaced arms 39 of a V-shaped base 40. The bearings 38 may be expeditiously constructed by transversely channeling andfiaring as at 21 the upper extremities on 39 as shown.

The trunnions 31, either one or both, may be further adapted to receive a crank arm (not shown) upon that portion which extends beyond the bearings 38. This will enable the use of the invention where no water power is present to turn the water wheel aforementioned. Although any suitable engagement may be provided between a trunnion 31 and a crank arm, a suitable method is shown whereby the trunnion is 'provided with a flattened portion 44 on its extremity for relatively non-rotative cooperation with the crank arm.

In this construction tank the inner diame- 1 ter of the spool I I], the outer diameter of the discs l5, are preferably so constructed relative to each other that the spool H) is relatively closely and slidably disposed in the tank 30 and tangentially supported therein bythe circumferential edges of the discs l5 resting against'the inner surface of tank 38'. 'In the illustrated embodimentof the present invention the general position of the films in the cylindrical tank 30 is one of a spaced nature relative to the inner face of the tank, and according to its preferable form, a spaced and concentric relation relative to each other and the axis of rotation of the spool l which is substantially the axis of rotation oftanl:

30 as supported by its trunnions 31 in bearings 38. It is evident that the spool I0 and films 20 supported therein rotate with the tank 30 when the tank 30 is propelled by water 4| flowing upon the vanes 36'of the water wheel integral with the closed end 3i 01' said tank 30.

The respective parts herein described can be made of metal, hard rubber, molded cellulous ether or other cellulosic materials not affected by chemicals employed in developing, fixing and/or washing photographic films, and the nuts l8, cap 32 and outer circumference of tank 30' may be knurled to facilitate the handling of these respective parts.

Briefly, the handling and operation of the device is efiected as follows:-

The tank 30 is lifted from said supports 39, the cap 32 is removed and the spool ill withdrawn. If necessary one nut l8 on the end portion l2 of spindle H and the adjacent disc i are removed and a spacer i1 is placed upon the end portion l2 of a length sumcient to make the distance between the bottom of corresponding grooves IS on the opposed faces of disc substantiallythe same as the width of the films which are to be inserted in said grooves. The disc I5 is replaced on the end portion I 2 and is tightened and secured by nuts i8 in a position symmetrically opposed to the other disc 15. Next, the films 20 are inserted between flanges 22 into corresponding grooves IS on their respective discs [5, guided by the widened openings or mouths of grooves I8 thereof which are provided by the bevelling of the lands 24. The tank 38 is up-ended and partially filled with the desired amount of developing liquids, and the spool ill with films 20 supported concentrically therein, is placed in the tank and cap 32 screwed securely in place. The relative positions of tank 3|! and the spool i0 thereby become one of substantially corresponding axes. Thereafter the tank 30 is replaced upon base with the trunnions 31 received in the bearings 38 as illustrated. The device is then placed under a faucet 43in proper position for the water 4! therefrom to fall upon the concave surfaces of the vanes 36 of said water wheel to one side of the axis of the tank 30 which is thereby revolved on its trunnions 31 in the bearings 38. The spool i0, which is tangentially supported in .said tank, is rotated with the tank 30 for the length of time desired for the action of the liquid to take place, and the liquid insidewhich, because of gravity, retains its lowest level in the tank. It is evident that only an amount of liquid need be used which will fill the tank, when axially horizontally disposed, to a depth slightly greater than the radial distance between the innermost film supported in the tank and the face of said tank, thus effecting a great saving of liquids. In retaining its lowest level the liquid bathes the films 20 supported in the tank 30 as they circularly rotate with and in the spool I0. Substitution of liquid in the tank enables the use of the several solutions necessary in the developing, fixing and/or washing of the films, all of which are referred to in the following claims as "developing of Although but one preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it will be apparent that it is capable of various modifications and changes, and, accordingly, formal changes may be made therein without departing from the substance or the spirit of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for supporting a plurality of separate photographic films or the like, in spaced relation, comprising, in combination,- a pair of spaced parallel plate-like members, a post connecting said members and securing them in fixed relation with respect to each other, a plurality of ridges on the opposed faces of said members, said ridges being arranged in spaced relation about said posts, and portions of the edges of said members being cut away to expose the grooves formed between said ridges whereby to enable the direct insertion oi -a film in any one of the individual grooves.

2. A holder for supporting a plurality of sepa rate photographic films or the like, comprising, in combination, two parallel plate-like members symmetrically-opposed relative to each other, a plurality of lands arranged in spaced and concentric relation on the opposed faces of said members for receiving films between them, and a spindle meansoperatively-en'gaging said membersand adapted ",to retain said members .in spaced relation to eachother 3. A holder for supporting a pluralitypf separate photographic films or the like, comprising,

in comhinatiorr, parallel and symmetrically opposed discs having corresponding concentric grooves upon their inner faces for sppporting films in spaced and concentric relation, and means securing said discs in spaced relatiomrelative to each other. L

4:. Means for supporting a plurality of separate photographic films or the like, comprising'in combination, a spindle, two symmetrically opposed parallel discs mounted on said spindle and correspondingly disposed perpendicularly to the, axis thereof, replaceable means intermediate saidspindle and one of said discs adapted to cooperate with said spindle in manner as to space said discs a fixed distance apart, and securing means operatively engaging said spindle in manner as to retain the discs in a fixed spaced relation relative to each other, said discs being adapted to support upon? their inner faces photographic films in a spaced relation and concentrically disposed relative to the-axis of said spindle. 5. Means for supporting a plurality of separate photographic films or the like, comprising,

aosaaae site ends thereof, said discs having corresponding marginal portions thereof removed and the remaining portions so constructed and arranged as to receive and support in a spaced relation, films disposed around the axis of said spindle.

- 7. Means for supporting a plurality of separate photographic films or the like, comprising, in combination, a spindle, symmetrically opposed discs disposed on and secured in perpendicular relation to the axis. of said spindle adjacent the ends thereof, said discs having correspondingv marginal portions thereof removed to form notches therein, and concentric ridges formed upon the inner faces of the remaining portions of said discs, and terminating adjacent the margins of said notches, and said ridges being narrowed at one end to provide a wide'mouth to the grooves between said ridges.

8. Means for supporting a plurality of separate photographic films or the like, comprising, in

in combination, a spindle, two symmetrically opposed. discs mounted on opposite ends of said spindle and maintained in spaced relation relative to each. other therebyisaid discs having cor-= responding marginal portions cut away and the remaining marginallportions having corresponding grooves upon theinner faces thereof for supporting in a spaced relation films concentrically disposed around the said spindle and between Said discs.

6. Means for supporting: a plurality. of separate photographic ,or the like: comprising, in combination, a spindlejf- 1" etrically opp ed discs disposed on'andrsecured in perpendicn m the atria of said spindle at oppo combination, two parallel and symmetrically opposed plate-like members, means for retaining said members ina spaced relation, said members having corresponding marginal portions thereof removed, and concentric ridges formed on the inner' faces of said members upon the remaining marginal portions thereof for supporting films in a concentric spaced relation between said members, said ridges at one end being of appreciably. 

